Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, IFL Condor Adam Lynn now lives in Orange county, but he clarifies that he is not one of those ‘bad’ Harley Davidson guys: “No, no, not at all. That’s a different Orange County: They’re from Orange County, New York. I’m in Orange County, California,” says Lynn.

Prior to getting into MMA, Adam was involved in a defense system of a different kind, having served in the US Marines from 1998 till 2002. “I was kinda in a dead-end spot. A lot of my friends went to college and I had no interest in going to college, but I wanted to get out of doing the same old thing where I grew up. So I thought it was a good decision on my part to join the military. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Although Adam did tour with the marines regularly, he says he wasn’t involved in active duty. “I was stationed in California, but I never saw any action. We went on a couple of routine deployments, and actually hit Australia a couple of times; it was the best time of my life. We went to Brisbane twice: The first time there was some sort of regatta there – a really big deal – and hell, yeah, it was the best time of my life: the best six days I’ve ever had.”

Not surprisingly with Adam’s MMA background, he wasn’t a cook or navigator in the marines, but rather a heavy machine-gunner. “It was a pretty cool job,” says Lynn, who also states he did not get into the fighting arts through the marines’ unarmed combat training.

“I had a guy in my platoon who was a judo blackbelt – the marines really had nothing to do with it; during off-time, we would get together and he would show me some stuff, and that’s how I got started. Then I pushed it from there.”

Adam, what are the main ingredients in your MMA fight game today besides judo?

“I like to say I’m really well rounded, but most of my game is being pretty aggressive, with good punching, takedown, and ground’n’pound. I think I have the ability to submit and knock people out, but ideally what I like to do is pop them a little bit on the feet, take them down, and ground’n’pound. They’re my best assets.”

So, with your background, you’re obviously capable of submissions, but you’d rather take them down and g’n’p.

“Well, like I say, I am capable of submitting and I have done it… If the opportunity presents itself, I’ll go for it. But I like to be in control, and I think that’s where I feel most comfortable and in control (g’n’p-ing) – when I can take someone down and control them on the ground… But if he turns over, I’ll definitely go for the choke. However, if the opportunity is not there, usually I’m not going to risk it: I’d rather stay on top and punch until he gives me something.”

You’d rather g’n’p than waste a ton of energy trying to set up a hold?

“Exactly. The guys nowadays – it’s hard to set them up because they know exactly what you’re trying to do, so… And I like to be in as much control as possible.”

How did you hook up with Marco Ruas?

“My manager is a fighter, a girl named Debbie Purcell. She was one of Marco’s first American students, and she actually got me on the team by sending my highlight video around. Debbie persuaded Marco to look at me, and I owe it all to her – she set it up for me.”

Is Marco’s English good – can you communicate with him okay? When I saw him on an early UFC, he used an interpreter.

“His English has gotten a lot better. Sometimes it’s hard to pick a few things up, but the more you’re around him – we really have no problem communicating. It’s usually him yelling at us to kick the pad or something, so we’ve got it down.”

How long have you been with Marco?

“I just met the guy three or four months ago before he had the team. I met him while he was setting things up, so I’ve only been training with him for about four months. But we clicked and I like him, and I think he respects me a little bit: I feel the same way about him, so it’s a good arrangement. It’s a good team and we have a good core-group of guys. We’re all from the same area and we’ve all trained together for a long time.”

With Marco’s exceptional BJJ and kickboxing skills, have you picked up a lot from him?

“I pick up things from everybody I train with, and I think the biggest thing I’ve picked up from Marco is intensity. In my last couple of years of fighting, not too many coaches have pushed me that hard. But when I first started training with Marco it was a real throwback to when I first started fighting, where, when you’re relatively new you don’t know how everything works. But he has the ability to push you beyond what you think you’re capable of.”

On March 7 you face off with Savant Young. What do you know about Savant?

“I know he’s a very explosive guy… I think he’s good at all areas. >From what I hear, he’s got very good stand-up, and he’s pretty decent on the ground, so… He’s fought some big guys in the sport… I’m looking forward to a really good fight.”

I’ve heard you’re both pretty spirited fighters; will this be an explosive encounter?

“Yeah; I expect them all to be explosive, and hopefully it turns out my way.”

Do you expect it to be a stand-up war, or to progress from the stand-up to the ground?

“Ideally, like I said before, I’d like to go out there and pop him once or twice, then put him on the ground and kinda soften him up. If it goes to the second round and he wants to throw a little on the feet… as long as I feel that I’m in control… If I feel that I’m losing a grip of the fight, then I’m going to try to clinch it up and take it to the ground. I’m going to try to get the momentum back in my favor, but I think what I intend doing is taking him down.”

Adam, is there anything you’d like to add?

“I’ll tell you what I think of the IFL: I’m really thankful that I got on Marco’s team and I really appreciate what the IFL are trying to do with the sport. As it’s turning out now, in the States, it’s UFC’s biggest competition, and I feel very privileged to be a part of what they’re doing.”

Did you duck home to Pittsburgh to greet Charles and Camilla?

“No I didn’t. I’m sorry I missed them.”

Sponsors?

“I would like to thank Tapout for their support.”